Mindfulness is also known as mindfulness, i.e. a process in which a person focuses on their current feelings, on being here and now. It is an effective relaxation technique and improves concentration.
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Where did mindfulness come from? History of Mindfulness Training
Mindfulness has its roots in ancient Buddhist traditions. It originates from Vipassana meditation, in which we maintain awareness of sensations within the body. He introduced mindfulness to Western psychology at the end of the 70s. XX wieku Jon Kabat-Zinn. At the University of Massachusetts clinic, he created the Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction program.
An important achievement of Kabat-Zinn was that he managed to deprive meditation of its religious context, which made it a therapeutic technique that followers of various religions began to use eagerly.
The popularity of mindfulness grew in the 80s. and 90s, and now it is a technique valued all over the world.
How does mindfulness work and who does it help?
Mindfulness meditation teaches us to focus on the present moment. We focus our attention on external and internal stimuli, on the breath and the sensations that accompany it. Importantly, we never judge them. We observe the thoughts that appear in our heads like clouds passing in the sky – we notice them, but we do not analyze them.
Such meditation teaches distance from one’s own thoughts, emotions and everyday difficulties. It develops concentration, lowers anxiety and stress levels.
That’s not all, because according to research, mindfulness improves motor and cognitive functions in people with Parkinson’s disease.
Mindfulness is a meditation that can be used by anyone. We recommend it especially to people who:
- suffer from PTSD,
- have problems with controlling stress,
- struggle with anxiety disorders,
- experience intrusive thoughts,
- have difficulty concentrating.